Asiedu Nketiah calls for deeper involvement of the churches in the running of mission schools

Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the National Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), has advocated for churches to play a more active role in the management of mission schools. Speaking at the launch of a multi-million-cedi College of Education project marking the 100th anniversary of the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church, Mr. Nketiah emphasized that engaging churches more deeply would spur them to invest more in Ghana's education sector.

He argued that the reason for religious bodies to invest in schools is to nurture their children in their faith's core beliefs and discipline. Mr. Nketiah also pointed out that the notion that churches founded these schools must cede all rights to teach their religion because state funds are involved is misguided, as parents, who are taxpayers, also have a stake.

He highlighted that mission schools were the pioneers of education in the Gold Coast and continue to play a crucial role in the sector. Nketiah stressed that instead of diluting their influence, efforts should be made to encourage them. He affirmed that parents and their children are free to choose the school they want to attend, and once admitted, they agree to the school's disciplinary code.

The management of mission schools has been a contentious issue in Ghana, with debates over religious practices, dress codes, and worship in these schools. While critics argue that public funding should mean secular management, faith-based organizations, including the Christian Council of Ghana, the Catholic Bishops Conference, and the SDA Church, maintain that mission schools were established to provide both academic and moral formation based on their faith values.

The SDA Church, in particular, has announced plans for a new College of Education, aligning with the NDC government's policy of strengthening collaboration with faith-based organizations in education delivery.